Romania: Sânpetru Bioarchaeology & Excavation (IFR)

Location: Sânpetru, Romania

Season: June 8, 2025 to August 2, 2025

Session Dates: 2 sessions in 2025 S1: June 8 – July 5 S2: July 6 – Aug. 2

Application Deadline: April 15, 2025

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://ifrglobal.org/program/romania-sanpetru/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Institute for Field Research (IFR), The Braşov Bioarchaeology Project

Project Director:
Dr. Annamaria Diana, Dr. Daniela Marcu Istrate

Project Description:

Explore the myths, history, and culture of the infamous Transylvania region as you participate in this unique field school that spends equal time training you in field excavation and bioarchaeology. You’ll dig on the grounds of the 13th century fortified church of Sânpetru to learn more about the village’s long history as you develop excavation techniques. You’ll also get substantial experience in cleaning, identifying, and processing skeletal remains as you contribute to an ongoing project organizing bones previously excavated from a burial site that was employed for over five centuries as a resting place for wealthy residents of the city of Brasov. You’ll also get to connect with Romanian customs and traditions through excursions and weekends exploring the beautiful area.

Field school highlights:

• Gain practical hands-on experience that translates to any excavation site including digging techniques, sieving, surveying, and documentation.
• Learn to identify human bones and deduce aspects of their lives and communities such as sex, age, diet, class, and more.
• Connect with history, your surroundings, and the local community through excursions to UNESCO world heritage sites that are still used as venues for cultural, musical, and artistic events every summer.

Period(s) of Occupation: Medieval, post- Medieval, multi period

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Students are expected to stay the full length of the program.

Minimum Age: 18 years or older

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
Students will stay in a local guesthouse/hotel. Rooms are airy and spacious and all have en-suite bathrooms. They will be generally occupied by two, maximum three students depending on the number of applicants. The hotel is equipped with all essential amenities (Wi-Fi, kitchen, laundry facilities, communal areas) and offers ample outdoor spaces where the students will be able to relax, read, study, eat and socialize on hot summer evenings. A professional cook will serve breakfast and dinner in the common dining room, while lunches will consist of sandwiches and field food prepared by students themselves from foods provided at the hotel each morning. Accommodations will be made for special dietary requirements and restrictions although some specific dietary restrictions such as kosher or halal meals may not be feasible. The directors will try, however, to accommodate all needs as much as possible.

Academic Credit:
8 semester (12 quarter)